Weekend update

Okay, I kinda forget to get on here this weekend.  My 6 mile walk was a success!  I did it in 1:48.  My knee had a few moments where it got a little angry, but it wasn't too bad and it always went away.  My knee was a bit tender yesterday, so I did 45 minutes of Zumba.  I'm going to start alternating my run/walks and zumba days so that I have some good cross training in there.  Now time for me to go do some laundry.  Hoping it will warm up a little this afternoon for our walk/run, and that the rain is done for the day.

Day 10

Well, so much for doing zumba today.  It felt so nice out this morning that I decided I had to go outside.  So we did another walk.  2 miles in 40 minutes.  We took it easy, no running and my knee handled it pretty well.  Tomorrow we may do a little of both to change it up a little.  

Had a great day.  Ky got a package today that contained a medal for her race last weekend.  It was very unexpected, but totally awesome!.  And to make the day even better, her dance evaluation went wonderful and she is moving up into the older ballet class!  The instructor says that she NEEDS to be in that class.  She followed along perfectly and never missed a beat.  She did just as well as everyone else even though she is now the youngest, and the smallest, girl in the class.  Watching her on the bar was a little funny.  While the bar hit everyone else at the upper abdomen, it hit Ky at the shoulder, but she did awesome.  I'm so proud of her!

Keeping it up

We did 2 miles in 36 minutes today.  My knee is protesting some today, so I have it elevated with ice on it. I even had someone ask me if this was a New Year's Resolution, and I was happy that I could say that this started before that and that I had a race coming up!  I'm feeling great and tomorrow it is supposed to rain so we will do Zumba and it will change things up and lower the stress on my knee before my 6 miles this weekend.  Kiddo starts back at dance tonight and tomorrow she gets evaluated to move up from the mini-ballet to regular ballet 1.  Now we just need to take baths before time to leave.

Day 8

Today the kid and I did 2 miles in 37 minutes.  I feel great and this weekend I make my first attempt at doing 6 miles.  Found out last night that I may be going to a Mardi Gras ball, I'll find out later this week if its going to happen.  Ky and I will do another 2 miles tomorrow since its supposed to rain Thursday and Friday.  Tomorrow I will check for more job openings again too.  I'm feeling awesome and happy and I thank God for His blessings.  My job is coming and I know that it is him that has given me this new love for running and fitness.  Tonight, I have some half-marathon training guides to look over.  My bestie and I are going to try and make the Rock 'n Roll Savannah Half-Marathon our first one.  That gives us 10 months to prepare.  I think we can do it.  We'll have to start saving up the money now too so that we can afford the gas and hotel on top of the race fees.  Even with all of this on my mind, I feel everything is the way it is supposed to be and I feel God's grace shining down on me.  It is a truly amazing feeling.

The Greatest Friend in the World!

I have the greatest friend in the world.  She knows that I have been working hard at this running thing and has been encouraging me almost daily to stick with it and not give up.  Tonight she agreed to run a half-marathon with me in the fall.  She is the most amazing person and I love her like she were my own sister.  She has been there for me since we met almost 4 years ago and our friendship has only grown stronger.  She is a true blessing from God.  I love her and her family so much and I look forward to running with her in my first Half-Marathon ever!!!!

Feeling Awesome!

Today was a great day.  Ky and I did a 2 mile walk.  It took us 40 minutes, but then we didn't run.  I felt great when I got home.  Mom also gave me part of my birthday present early, my registration for the Mardi Pardi 10K!!!!!  So so excited!  She is a little concerned about how well my knee will handle the distance.  I injured it several years ago and its something I have to keep an eye on.  I have a month to get ready, I've already done a 5K and I could have kept going so I welcome the challenge.  My flower will be in soon, so I will get to show it off at this race too!  The race is a week before my birthday!

A Very Awesome Weekend

Had an awesome weekend at the Mississippi Blues Marathon!  Mom ran the half and did amazing, finishing in 3 hours!  Was happy to be there cheering her on.  I felt left out a bit since I was the only one not running out of the 3 of us.  My daughter ran the 1 mile kid's marathon. I ran along with her to cheer her on, and she finished in under 15 minutes!  But still, the only one who doesn't have a MS Blues race bib for my scrapbook.  After her race, we walked around until Mom finished, then walked around some more until Marathon Mitch finished.  After lunch, burgers (I know what you're thinking, but we were in a hotel), my daughter and I went to see the dinosaur exhibit at the Natural Science Museum.  I will be running this Half-Marathon next year!  It was just so exciting!

We got home this afternoon and have been enjoying a great day relaxing.  I made some delicious turkey and spinach meatballs for dinner.  My mom and daughter loved them and I think this is something that I will make more often.  I'm now enjoying my quiet time.  Just finished my 30 minutes of Wii yoga and strength training.  

My next race will be the Mardi Pardi 10K/5K.  Not sure which I will be doing yet.  Next weekend I'm going to see how my knee handles doing 6 miles.  I know I can do the 5K, but I'd love to tackle the 10K.  Its close to my birthday and mom ordered me my own flower from the Fellow Flowers (http://fellowflowers.com/) as part of my birthday present, so I will have it to wear at the race.  I'm really excited.  So whether I get anything more than just a shirt, I'll still be having a blast.  I'll probably get beads too since it is the Saturday before Mardi Gras!  Can't wait!  

I also discovered that I have actually lost weight since my first race at the end of November. I wore the same pants that I had worn that day and they fit much better!  So super exciting!  More to come later, about to start reading Running for Mortals by Bingham and Hadfield.

Day 4... Really really quick... Gotta go!

Can't say a whole lot today, we have to leave soon.  Had a great day.  My baby girl and I did about 1.75 miles in 35 minutes.  Can usually do more, but I'm still fighting this cold and breathing was a little difficult.  I look forward us running that whole distance some day soon.  I'll be back on here on Sunday.  Bye!

Day 3

Its been a good day. Bowl of cereal for breakfast with a cup of coffee, which I still haven't finished but I will.  Ran errands in the morning and then had a wonderful lunch.  Bowtie pasta with mushrooms and spinach.  I also sprinkled a little feta crumbles on top.  It was light but filling.  I will definitely be making it again.  My mom won't eat it, she can't stand mushrooms or spinach, but my kid loved it (minus the mushrooms).  I'll get me some more mushrooms and spinach this weekend.  It only took 20 minutes to make.  I want to try a turkey meatball recipe next.  Maybe for Sunday dinner.  Going to watch mom run the MS Blues Half-Marathon this weekend, so I have to figure out what to bring for us to cook at the hotel.  I may get the mushrooms and spinach and just cook that since mom is already cooking her plain spaghetti.

Anyway, today I tried out the Zumba Activate video.  45 minutes of constant motion.  I did have to break a couple of times and I still haven't mastered all the steps either.  I look forward to the day that I can follow it without much trouble and I can just flow with the music.  I'm now all clean and showered and now I have to figure out what dinner is.  I think we still have plenty of stuff for chicken tacos.  Hmmm....  decisions decisions.  I also have stuff to make amazing low-cal rubens (sp?).  I'll figure it out later.  


Tomorrow is a break from Zumba.  I'm either going to run or do yoga, or both depending on how much time I have.  Either way, I'm looking forward to it.

Day 2

Okay, so I started reading a new book last night and stayed up a bit later than I intended.  Needless to say, I was a little groggy this morning.  I'm doing well today.  Banana and coffee for breakfast, a tremendous feat since I never eat breakfast.  Lunch was a chicken wrap with a side salad and I have the crockpot going for chicken tacos for dinner.  I just finished my 55 minutes of Zumba Step-by-Step, and I am definitely feeling the burn.  My wee one doesn't like it very much because she can't keep up with them, so she opted to watch or jump on the little trampoline while I finished up.  The awesome thing is that I can feel it working in all areas of my core, not just the central abs, but the obliques and the back muscles too.  Can't wait to start seeing the results.  One more day of Zumba, then I have a break day.  Depending on what the weather is like, we will either be going for a walk/run or doing some yoga with the Wii.  

I have a month and a half until Mardi Gras and my birthday.  I would love to go to my first ball this year and it would be awesome if I had to go shopping because the dress I have is too big to wear.  :)  I'll let you know what happens.

Off to make a healthy snack for baby girl.

Day 1! Happy New Year!!!

So today is January 1^st.  The first day of 2013, and what a year this will be.  I can just feel it!  2012 had some momentous moments for me, like going to field school and finally graduating from college, and running my very first 5K!  Still haven’t found a job yet, but I know it’s coming.  Until I find it, I’m using my extra time at home wisely.  Aside from the running pants that I asked for this Christmas, I got something else that was even better.  I got 3 coupons from my mom, each good for one shopping spree as I meet certain weight loss goals.  One after 20lbs, another after the 2^nd 20lbs, and the 3^rd for when I lose the remaining weight.  To go along with this, I got the Zumba Exhilarate set!  I’ve never gone to a class before, even though they were offered at my University Rec Center.  I’m a little self-conscience about stuff like that.  I weighed this morning and sealed the number in an envelope.

Today, my Mom and I started the 100 Day Challenge.  It is a commitment to do at least 30 minutes of continuous activity every day for the next 30 days.  My daughter gets drawn into it too, but she loves dancing and running.  One of her huge accomplishments for 2012 came after her last dance class of the semester.  The very next day I got a message from the owner of the dance school saying that her teachers think she is ready to move up to the next level of classes.  So she is being evaluated next week when classes start back.  I am so proud of my little one, I had to brag about her just a little.  She also ran her first 5K this year with me!  She’s only 5 and she was so excited because she beat a 6 year old boy!  LOL!

Okay, so back to the other stuff.  Today, I did the Zumba Step-by-Step video.  It was 55 minutes of working muscles that running cannot even begin to touch!  I felt great afterwards and I’ll be doing it again tomorrow.  I can’t do all of the moves yet, but I will get there.  I’ll still do my running, the race was too much fun not to, but I will be enjoying the Zumba and I can do some Wii Fit Yoga once or twice a week to keep it from getting monotonous. 

I know that exercise alone isn’t going to cut it, I have to change my eating habits too.  I don’t eat bad and we rarely eat out, but pasta is my weakness and I’m a pretty picky eater.  So I have spent the last couple of days looking for recipes that are lower in calories, but still appeal to my picky tastes.  It helps that I have been dying to find new things to cook because meals have become very boring at home.  Its gotten to the point that I am cooking the same things over and over again.  I did create something new last night though, and it was so delicious and simple!  Cook some ground turkey, seasoned to taste, then add a can of Rotel, drained.  Mix and continue cooking until the tomatoes are heated through.  I put some in a pita with some baby spinach and sautéed mushrooms (sautéed in a teaspoon of olive oil with a pinch of sea salt).  It was sooooo good!  I thought it would just be another boring meal, but it was all I could think of on short notice.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.  Very flavorful and healthy.  Looking forward to trying more delicious new meals and getting down these Zumba steps.  I’m already feeling it in my abs and obliques.  Some steps are easier than others, I don’t have many issues with the Salsa, Cumbia, or Belly Dance steps, but the others are a little more challenging.  But I have to say, Challenge Accepted!